Toronto Comicon March 2022

Cosplay and comics return to the city during the March break Sci-Fi, Anime, Gaming and Horror convention from the 18th to the 20th in the south building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Show Hours are Friday 10 AM - 7 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM and Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM.

From the Comicon website; "Everyone is a fan of something, and Toronto Comicon is a place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph or a photo with your favourite Guest then get the inside scoop about your favourite movies and TV shows at our celebrity panels! Watch professional comic artists battle it out in our popular Sketch Duels, learn from our “How To” workshops, and take photos with your favourite costumed characters! It’s also a great place to buy a unique gift (or treat yourself!) with a huge show floor for the ultimate shopping experience."

See more cosplay after the jump.

Fun things to do in Toronto September & October 2022

I love months that begin with holiday weekends, or have statutory holidays in them. And as a bonus, to also have fall colours and temperatures, well that makes a perfect time of the year. Unless Covid-19 rears its ugly head again we should be good to go with public events so here are some events that you can look forward to.

Canadian National Exhibition CNE Fri, Aug 19 to Mon, Sept 5.
Buskerfest Fri to Mon, Sept 2-5 at Woodbine Park in the Beaches.

Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) Sat to Mon, Sept 3-5.

And the world famous Toronto International Film Festival, or tiff Sept 8-18.

Taste of Kingsway Fri to Sun, Sept 9-11

Celebrate Toronto Sat to Sun, Sept 10-11

Illumi: A massive light festival in Mississauga Sept 14, 2022 - Jan 8, 2023

Toronto Ukrainian Festival Fri to Sun, Sept 16-18

Small World Free Music Festival at Old Fort York Garrison Common Fri to Sun, Sept 16-18

Windfest Sat, Sept 17.

Pape Village Summerfest Sat, Sept 17

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Nathan Phillips Square Sat, Sept 17

Huron Square Variety Saturday Sat, Sept 17

Roncesvalles Polish Festival Sat to Sun, Sept 17-18

Redpath Waterfront Festival Sat to Sun, Sept 17-18.

Elevate and Just for Laughs Street Festival Fri to Sun, Sept 23-25

Toronto Beer Week Fri to Sun, Sept TBD 
Just for Laughs Festival Toronto JFL42 Thurs to Sat, Sept 22 to Oct 1.

I Love Culture Fri to Sun, Sept 23 to Oct 16.

Red Bull Flugtag at Ontario Place, Free to Attend, Sat, Sept 24.

Geary Art Crawl Fri to Sat, Sept 24-25.

Toronto Oktoberfest Fri to Sat, Sept 30 to Oct 1 in Ontario Place.

Nuit Blanche Sat, Oct 1 (6:51 pm to sunrise). The all night art thing with plenty of videos and light shows as well as Les Rues Des Refuses (hopefully).

Renegade Parade Nuit Blanche Rave

Toronto Everything to do with Sex Show Fri to Sun, Oct 14-16.

Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV and Powersports Show Fri to Sun, Oct 21-23.
Art Toronto Wed to Sun, Oct 27 - 30.

Night of Dread Sat, Oct 29 from 4:30-9pm. Begins at the Dufferin Grove Park with the parade from 6-7pm.
Zoomer Show Sat to Sun, Oct 29-30.
Halloween on Church Mon, Oct 31

Church Street Zombie Walk Mon, Oct 31 TBD.

And just around the corner is opening night of The Royal Horse Show on Friday, November 4, which will be their 10-day Anniversary celebration.

Toronto Winter Stations 2022

The public exhibition along the sandy shores of Woodbine Beach is back in Toronto until March 31, 2022. Five art installations, winners of an annual international design competition, incorporate the utilitarian lifeguard towers and bring visitors to the beach during the harsh conditions of winter.

One Canada

Wind surfer catches air along Woodbine Beach

The 2022 theme of Winter Stations is Resilience - from their website; "Over the course of the last year and a half, we have so clearly witnessed the immense ability of people to withstand and push through challenging and unprecedented times.. In recognition and celebration of this courage, the theme chosen for the 2022 edition of Winter Stations is Resilience: the ability to withstand adversity and recover from difficulties. To be resilient, one is faced with hardship, confronts it, and pushes to overcome it. Whether on a micro or macro scale, families, livelihoods, cities, and countries have experienced loss and isolation – but also – have been presented with great opportunities for adaptation and growth. This year, we not only reflect on all the ways people have had to be resilient, but the ways people have channeled this resilience, be it through communities, movements, support networks and more."

THE HIVE

The five winners showing this year are S’winter Station, ENTER-FACE, THE HIVE, Introspection
and One Canada. My favourite is the HIVE which is a multi-couloured geodesic dome which looked great, provided peace and quiet out of the strong, cold winds blowing off of Lake Ontario. It was so windy when we visited that wind surfers were gaining tremendous height off the waves, gaining quite a bit of altitude before they came back earth.

ENTER-FACE

See more of the installations after the jump.

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming 2022

The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA) opens on March 10 with a new season of art exhibitions. The museum will continue with requirements for masks and proof of vaccinations for entry. I know that I have enjoyed going to the museum and look forward to the new exhibitions in 2022.

From March 10 to July 31, 2022 MOCA Toronto will feature several exhibitions including those by "Iranian-born, New York-based artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat – her first major exhibition in Canada in 20 years – artist Jeffrey Gibson, a Member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Half Cherokee, and Cuban-born, American artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres."

MOCA is located at 158 Sterling Road, Toronto and their hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm, Fridays from 11am to 9pm and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

You can also attend an offsite event on opening night "to mark the opening of Iranian-born artist and filmmaker, Shirin Neshat’s exhibition Land of Dreams, MOCA will be hosting a conversation featuring Neshat and Kurdish-born Canadian filmmaker Zaynê Akyol at the Paradise Theatre on March 10th. The conversation will focus on the key themes and concerns of Neshat’s practice that also feature within Akyol’s research: including reflections on Neshat’s Iranian heritage, global issues of displacement, migration, and women’s rights. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A."

Events in Toronto March 2022

We have passed the dog days of winter and entered March with the lifting of most Covid-19 restrictions and thankfully public events are returning to Toronto. As the weather warms there is so much to look forward to from the blossoms of spring to patios opening up once again. Spring comes in March, on the 20th of 2022, when the Vernal (Spring) Equinox comes knocking.

Of course the relaxation of public health and workplace safety measures means that more people will be abandoning, or reducing the work from home (WFH) joys as businesses call back their employees. The sidewalks and the underground path system will begin to fill as will public transit, while traffic congestion will also lead to more and more traffic jams.

Sadly many of the city's annual festivals and events remain cancelled, or held virtually, but there are some great events that are able to return including

Winter Stations in the Beach which has already started and will continue till the end of March - you can see my photos of the exhibition on my post here. Toronto FC's opening game is this Saturday (March 5), better bundle up if you are going to that game. If you want to stay warmer keep Medieval Times in mind as the knights start jousting on March 5th as well.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto opens on March 10 for a new season of exhibitions. Located on Sterling Driver north of the curving Dundas Street West.

For students one of the happiest times of the year is March break which takes place from March 14 to 18 with all schools closed. You can also check out historic Fort York during March break. Mid March is also the time when the sap starts flowing and the Maple Syrup festivals start up.

One of my favourites is definitely coming back for 2022 - Toronto Comicon runs from March 18 to 20 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. I already have my tickets and am looking forward to the comics and the cosplay. Show Hours: Friday 10 AM - 7 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM and Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM.

There is even an outdoor beer festival taking place at Steam Whistle. Join the cool crowd as they sip brews at the Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival on March 19.

On March 19th, 2022, join us at Toronto’s biggest and baddest après-brew-ski party. Gather your beer-loving pals, retro ski gear, long johns, and all the flannel you can get your mitts on. Early bird tickets are 90% sold out and you know what they say, the early bird gets the beer.

Back after two years is the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 20. "The parade will begin at the corner of St. George and Bloor Street West at 12 pm and proceed down Yonge Street, turning left towards the review stand at Nathan Phillips Square."

For those that like the two wheeled life the North American Motorcycle Supershow is at the International Centre from March 25 to 27. Check out my post here for a contest to win a pair of tickets to the 2022 show.

Earth Hour happens on the 26th of March this year "Every year, at 8:30 pm on the last Saturday of March, millions of people across the world show their support for our planet, raising awareness of nature loss and climate change - the two biggest threats facing our one home."

March 26 is also the start of the 2022 Toronto Biennial of Art which runs until June 5th. They are on a mission to make contemporary art accessible to everyone.

Motorcycle Shows in Toronto 2022

There are a lot of people that ride a motorcycle, there are a lot more that just dream of owning one of those glorious metal beasts and wait patiently for the motorcycle shows to hit town. Covid restrictions due to the spread of the Omicron variant postponed the first scheduled show of 2022, after almost two years of show cancellations - the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW, which is now back on the calendar. It looks like all restrictions will end in March so let the good times roll.

The change to loosen restrictions will not bring all the shows back, it takes time and money to plan and organize a show and many a show has already been cancelled for 2022 - so check back as we go, maybe new dates will be found in 2022.

The Toronto Motorcycle Show usually takes place in February at the Enercare Centre in Exhibition Place. Unfortunately the show was cancelled this year, to return in 2023 (February 17-19).  From the Motorcycle Shows website; "The return of the Toronto Motorcycle Show is being postponed to 2023. Despite the industry’s best efforts and intentions to re-unite the riding community in February 2022, the reinstatement of capacity restrictions means we have to put our plans on hold until 2023. Despite this setback, we remain optimistic about a return to live events in 2023. Until then, we would like to thank you for your patience and support. We look forward to the full-force return of the Toronto Motorcycle Show in 2023."

Check out my post here for a contest to win a pair of tickets to the 2022 show

Rescheduled from January 2022 into March 2022 the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW will be at the Toronto International Centre March 25 to 27. "Check out all the Newest items in Motorcycling in massive displays with New Bikes, Huge Manufacturer and Dealer Displays, walk the Century of Motorcycles Exhibition, discover the hottest Shopping Bargains, check out the Enormous Used Bike Markets and find all of your Parts & Accessories for sale in hundreds of Exhibitor booths. Meet over 100 Clubs, Rides & Rallies, and Purchase your Bike right at the Show. LIVE Motocross Freestyle shows, LIVE music. Meet industry celebrities and watch some of the biggest names in bike builders compete to win $50,000 in Cash and Prizes at The Canada Cup Championship Custom Bike Competition on the AMSOIL stage in hall 5."

There is only one Port Dover motorcycle Friday the 13th rally in 2022 - on Friday, May 13.

Cancelled in 2022: The Toronto Motorcycle Spring Show kicks off the riding season at the International Centre from April 9-10. Presented by Riders Plus Insurance the show delivers an incredible weekend of new and used bikes, motorcycle gear and accessories with attractions and exhibits that appeal to everyone from beginners to hardcore bikers.

To our good friends, and fellow riders,

 

Here is the Spring Show announcement, "It is with huge disappointment that we have elected to cancel this year’s 32nd running of the Toronto International Spring Motorcycle Show.  With the Supershow shifting into dates far too close to our own event, along with today’s unstable market conditions, a short supply of motorcycles, and motorcycle parts and accessories, we feel that we cannot provide our faithful attendees, amazing exhibitors and our always loyal sponsors the same level of quality motorcycle show that they’ve come to expect from us - and that we are dedicated to deliver to them. We wish everyone a safe, fun, riding season, and look forward to welcoming you all back next year for the 2023 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL SPRING MOTORCYCLE SHOW."

There is a motorcycle rally planned by the Stockyards Crew going to Wasaga Beach on Saturday, July 16, 2022 beginning at 9am in Toronto.

Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV and Powersports Show October 21-23 at the International Centre. "If you’re into snowmobiles, ATVS and an all around Powersports enthusiast, this is the show for you! As soon as you step foot on the show floor, you’ll be blown away with the incredible roster of exhibitors and the feature events taking place around the show. The enormous Outdoors Event Centre with Live test drives and Freestyle Shows featuring snowmobiles, ATVs, motocross and street bikes. You’ll find huge Manufacturer Displays showcasing all of the new snowmobile and ATV line-ups. This show has more corporate manufacturer displays than any other snowmobile and/or ATV show across North America. All of the new machines under one roof, over one weekend, you can’t miss it! We guarantee it will be worth the drive to get here." 

Toronto Motorcycle SUPERSHOW returns to Toronto in March 2022

Check my post here for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2022 Motorcycle Supershow

With Covid restrictions lifting in Toronto, bikers can celebrate the rescheduled North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW which will run March 25-27, 2022. The annual show usually comes to town during the first weekend of the new year but was postponed due to the Omicron variant cases starting to snowball in December. Photos are from the 2020 show (see my post here for more photos of that event).

The rescheduled Motorcycle SUPERSHOW, sponsored by NFP Insurance, will return to the Toronto International Centre with its abundant free parking. The 46th annual show hours are Friday (Mar. 25) 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday (Mar. 26) 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday (Mar. 27) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can pick up advanced tickets on their website.

My favourite motorcycles - the choppers and custom bikes will be in Hall 5 of the International Centre and look out for entertainment and special guests appearances.

Here is some information from the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW.

"The AMSOIL Canada CUP Motorcycle Builders Competition will return again this year and registration is now open. North America’s best bike builders and novices compete to win cash prizes totaling $50,000. 

Who doesn’t love nostalgia, why not take a walk through the Century of Motorcycles Exhibition, perhaps you will see your first ride? Need new gear or parts discover the hottest deals and shopping bargains. We welcome back our vendors and our attendees after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID. Meet new friends as all the Clubs, Rides & Rallies.

Also returning this year will be our New, Used, Vintage, Racing, Motocross, Custom, Choppers, Touring, Cruising Electric and Performance Motorcycles. There truly is something for everyone.

Are you thinking about getting your motorcycle license? Why not book your learn to ride course? Go green with an electric scooter or motorcycle."

moonGARDEN in Toronto

Big, glowing globes are setup on the steps of the Richmond-Adelaide Centre, right beside the giant sculpture called 'Dreaming'. The globes are part of the Lucien Traveling Light installation 'moonGARDEN' and you can find them on the courtyard off of Adelaide Street, just west of Bay Street in downtown Toronto.

These aren't just any globes, no these have travelled the world since 2012, beginning in Montreal and viewed by over 1 million people, slightly similar to a big, red ball like the one found in Toronto many years ago placed at different locations around the city, or the series of red balls found hanging in Brookfield Place. These globes are lit from within and the colours change randomly, putting on a show that comes alive as darkness descends on the city.

YouTube video of the installation at night

From Lucion's website; "The ambiance for the show was inspired by the theory of sets, a branch of mathematics that illustrates notions of sets and belonging. For us, moonGARDEN is the perfect metaphor for a more inclusive world. The installation consists in 6 to 25 self-inflating spheres from 6 to 30 feet in diameter. The cut-outs are made by laser in keeping with a predefined storyline and then assembled on rotating platforms. The sequence based on a single stream of light produces an enchanting animation reminiscent of the lamps that made shadows dance on the walls when we were kids."

An old high tech newspaper box

I found this credit card friendly newspaper box many years ago, sitting proudly in front of Union Station. I don't remember it staying very long and I have never seen another in the financial district or around the Eaton Centre since. Maybe this high tech box started the newspaper on the road to ruin.

As newspapers go out of business or have moved to an online only model the boxes have been disappearing from the streets faster than you can say "time for a covid lockdown". Since this box made a brief appearance in Toronto the Sun Newspaper chain was sold to Postmedia.

According to News Media Canada about 19 million newspapers per week were circulated in Canada (free and paid, 2021 data) while in 2009 this number was almost 37 million, a slight drop of almost 50%. Things should pick up next week though!

You know what we also don't see much of anymore - it's the TRUMP building on Bay Street, seen in this photo being built. In 2017 the building was sold and rebranded.

An early Spring by Wiarton Willie

I am writing this post while watching Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, a perennial favourite that I have watched many times, just as "Wiarton Willie" has viewed his surroundings and issued his opinion on the approach of Spring. Sadly the bleach blonde groundhog has gone to greener pastures and so it fell on his standard groundhog replacement to complete his prognostications this year. Sadly we don't have a Gobbler's Knob as a place to make the announcement, just Bluewater Park along the shores of Colpoy's Bay in South Bruce Peninsula.

Covid restrictions kept the February 2, 2022 event small which was then livestreamed to the entire world through the Town's YouTube Channel (see below). From the South Bruce website; "Each year on February 2nd, people from around the world eagerly wait to see if Wiarton Willie will see a shadow indicating 6 more weeks of winter, or not see a shadow, predicting an early spring. Wiarton Willie didn't see any shadow today. Mayor Jackson proudly announced to the virtual audience that we will have an Early Spring!"

It's too bad that the festival has been cancelled once again because the town puts on quite an event, with entertainment, amusement rides, pancakes and fireworks. Hopefully Wiarton Willie will be able to see a crowd next year if the festival comes back (see my 2020 visit to Willie on my post here). If nothing else I would love an early Spring.

Rehabilitation and restoration of Canada Malting Silos

Toronto's Bathurst Quay neighbourhood is getting a makeover and that includes work on the 2010 heritage designated Canada Malting Silos located south of Bathurst Street and Queens Quay. The hulking, concrete conglomeration of structures was closed in the late 1980s after approximately 60 years storing malt for the Canada Maltings Company - Canada's largest malting company.

Mayor John Tory said “This Bathurst Quay waterfront project has been an enormous undertaking dating back many years. I am thrilled about the progress that’s been made so far and applaud the efforts made by all of our partners who all share the same goal of improving our city’s waterfront. While we move forward in our next phase of construction, residents and visitors are able to continue to enjoy many parts of our beloved waterfront including new and improved facilities.”

First the eastern seawall was repaired in 2010 and work has continued in planning for the use of the site, to be incorporated with the upgrade of the adjacent waterfront area. In November of 2021 Mayor John Tory announced the beginning of phase 2 construction of the neighbourhood starting in the fall of 2022 and finishing in 2023 (parts of the media release included below) and transforming the area into a major tourist and cultural destination.

"Rehabilitating and restoring the heritage-designated Canada Malting silos. This work includes creating a pedestrian “portal” through the silos, containing an interpretive installation on the history and significance of these heritage-designated structures, as well as enabling investments (such as restored hydro connection, water-proofing, and other repairs) in the structures to support their future planned re-use and activation."

"The third and final construction phase – set to begin in summer 2022 – will deliver a significant new waterfront plaza on the malting property that will include seating areas by the water’s edge, purposefully-designed spaces for hosting occasional special events, and ambient lighting that can transform the malting silos into iconic waterfront beacons. The final public realm design will also include a new parkette and public art mural on nearby Eireann Quay, to connect each of the Bathurst Quay projects to each other, to the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood, and to the water’s edge."

The Toronto By-law 30-2011 designating the cultural heritage designation of the complex at 5 Eireann Quay (previously Bathurst Quay) describes the property's structures design value as "The Canada Malting Complex is significant in that it displays two rare surviving examples of grain elevators, a building type developed in North America. The 1929 and 1944 silos represent the evolution from the first wooden structures designed for the processing of grain in Buffalo, New York in the 1840s. As the result of improved materials and advanced technology, reinforced concrete silos were designed to resist the explosions and fires associated with the grain trade. The monumental scale, functional design and unadorned forms of the structures speak to the technological processes that took place inside them. The Canada Malting Company's south silos were indicative of the first generation of solid concrete grain elevators whose cylindrical configurations were expressed on the exterior of the structures. The 1944 grain elevator (or north silos), designed by T. Pringle and Son Limited of Montreal with architect E. C. Miller, represented the next generation of the building type, where the storage bins were concealed by straight exterior walls that offered additional capacity in the corners and crevices between the circular bins."

Work in 2022 will include fixing the roof, exterior wall repairs along with waterproofing and pumping water out of the silos. You can see the scaffolding installed on the west side of the south silos now to allow for work on the walls. Once this phase is done the work to repurpose the property will begin.

Updated photos April 2024 see more after the jump.